Yachtsman’s death rattles Newport

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- Sir Peter Blake, the America’s Cup winner killed by

pirates, was a warm man whose tall, imposing stature was contradicted by

his good-natured personality, Newport Beach yachtsman Gino Morrelli

recalled Friday.

“It’s a horrible tragedy,” said Morrelli, who befriended Blake at a

conference in San Francisco about seven years ago.

The 53-year-old mariner and environmentalist was shot and killed

Wednesday in a battle with pirates who boarded his boat in a port at the

mouth of the Amazon river, Brazilian officials reported Thursday. The New

Zealand native’s 119-foot research vessel, from which he was launching an

expedition to document the effects of global warming, was docked in the

Amapa region of Brazil awaiting customs when the attack occurred. After a

shootout that left Blake dead, the bandits got away with some cameras,

watches and a motor.

A legend of the international sailing community, Blake won the

America’s Cup in 1995 and 2000. He was knighted by the queen of England

in 1995.

Blake’s death has rattled boaters in Newport Beach and throughout the

world who are now reminded that they are not as safe on the water as they

may feel.

“It’s hard to understand here in the comfort of the United States,

where we don’t necessarily have to worry about pirates, but it’s such a

big part of sailing history,” said Ben Benjamin, sailing administrator at

Balboa Yacht Club. “It’s obvious that it’s still a very real fear.”

Morrelli, whose own record-breaking catamaran PlayStation was inspired

by the design of Blake’s 90-foot catamaran Enza, met Blake at the St.

Francis Stag Cruise in San Francisco in the mid-1990s.

“He was really fun, he was enjoyable, openly shared his experiences,”

Morrelli recalled of the weekend spent drinking and talking with Blake

and other competitive sailors. “Since we had mutual interest in

catamarans, we talked about catamarans and sailing around the world. He

was a great guy.”

Morrelli said Blake’s death is a sad and shocking reminder that even

the serene seas aren’t always safe.

“It’s just so tragic to lose your life over a couple watches and some

cameras and an outboard motor,” Morrelli said. “He’s got a wife and two

kids not a whole lot different in age than my two kids. It’s so hard to

believe, it’s just off the map.”

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 [email protected] .